Tagged ‘Microsoft’

Does the amount of cash you pump into the potential void that is research and development correlate to how innovative you are as a company? Nope. Well, not if a new report is to be believed, at least. Question is, is there anything Google and the like can do to catch Apple? Read more

Last night, we attended the launch of Windows Phone 8 – the cherry on the top of an image overhaul Microsoft’s been trudging towards for two years. That’s it now; the second coming of Windows is here – desktop, tablet, mobile and games console all singing from the same hymn sheet.

Thing is, as nice as it all is, there’s no escaping the fact that last night caused a lot of confusion. Everyone in the room shared the same odd sense of Déjà vu, stemming from the fact that we were attending the launch for something that’d, well… that had already been launched some months prior.

It’s called the double-launch effect, and it’s a PR’s worst nightmare…

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re quite switched on when it comes to the tech world. As such, you’re probably already getting tired of your living room glow box shoving Windows 8 in your face twice every ad break. But remember: not everyone is like you – and a new poll in the US has just duly shown Microsoft exactly that. Erm… Windows wha? Read more

After months and months of waiting and a drip-feed of information, Microsoft has finally launched Windows 8. The next generation operating software is a bold departure from the Windows of yore, but whether you like it or not, there’s no denying its freshness. Wanna see what all the fuss is about? Read more

People are all too wary of product placement now. Audiences will knowingly roll their eyes at Bond knocking back a neither-shaken-nor-stirred Heineken because they’ve seen it all before. So are there any ways to do it that aren’t offensive? The last remaining safe place for product placement and sponsorship seems to be reality TV; people who watch that sort of thing care less about what you stuff down their faces than the audience for a hollywood movie. Just look at Samsung’s X Factor invasion.

And that’s probably why Microsoft’s now exploring that avenue for the launch of racing game Forza Horizon – which is as much the star of a new online reality TV show as the people in it. Will it push the envelope to tearing point? Read more

Everyone wants to be famous, even if it’s just for a fraction of second. This is nothing new, and it’s a fact that’s been exploited on TV and in campaigns since forever. But there is still new ground being broken, and new ways to make people feel all special. Case in point? The upcoming Halo 4 marketing machine, which wants to recruit you and your heroic visage. Read more

Ready your purchase nerves for a bit of an onslaught. Far be it from us to jump on the ‘Christmas is just around the corner’ bandwagon when we haven’t even had Halloween yet, but… Well, it sort of is just around the corner. And the world’s biggest companies are lining up to attack your senses with ads. $5 (£3.1) billion’s worth. Read more

Microsoft’s 2012 is a pretty busy one. On top of launching Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, it’s also found time to bring about its own cross-platform Spotify rival. Xbox Music is finally landing tomorrow, but what does it actually do? Read more